City Relaunches Commuters Trust Nonprofit Program
The model now services residents who need to get to healthcare services, job interviews, volunteer opportunities, etc.
This month, the City of South Bend launched a new version of its Community Nonprofit Partner Program (CNPP), a service which assists adults who are experiencing transportation insecurity. CNPP is one of two programs operated by Commuters Trust, a public-private partnership that provides subsidized and free transportation to St. Joseph County employees, volunteers, and nonprofit clients and customers. Commuters Trust’s flagship program was launched in 2019 with grant funds from the Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge and provides subsidized transportation to workers of local employer partners.
Until 2021, Commuters Trust had primarily partnered with these local employers to reduce the stress associated with work commutes. All of that changed in 2021 when Commuters Trust teamed up with United Way of St. Joseph County to launch the first CNPP pilot. With the initial grant funding of $180,000 from United Way, Commuters Trust, in partnership with 12 local nonprofits, provided over 36,000 bus rides and 10,000 Uber rides to 229 transportation insecure residents. The program operated for a two-year period from October 2021 — September 2023 and made a significant impact on the lives of South Bend residents. Here is what some participants had to say about the program:
• “This program has been essential in my school/work activities. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to participate in the program. College is expensive, living and buying food is expensive so being able to save some money regarding transportation has been a huge help. Thank you!”
• “This program has been such a lifesaver for me, and I truly would not have been able to afford to get to work, appointments, take tests for school and get groceries without the ten free rides. I can’t stress enough how helpful this has been and the fact that this program exists makes me feel proud.”
• “I am very grateful for this program; it was such a great help. If it were not for this program, there would have been many days I would not have made it to work. Working with no vehicle is frustrating sometimes. I was happy to know that there were 10 free rides available every month.”
• “This program has been so good to me! In the winter I had car issues, and it was a stressful time. I’m so grateful my community offers a program like this!”
The CNPP relaunch, funded solely by the City, is a scaled down version of the first pilot. The Commuters Trust team has partnered with the following 10 nonprofit organizations to provide 100 clients with fully subsidized transportation benefits:
• The Salvation Army Kroc Center
• Life Treatment Centers
• United Religious Community of St. Joseph County
• Oaklawn Psychiatric Center, Inc.
• Our Lady of the Road, Inc.
• RiverBend Cancer Services
• Imani Unidad Inc.
• Family & Children’s Center
• St. Margaret’s House
• South Bend Empowerment Zone
Each organization will enroll up to 10 program participants each month, totaling 100 participants. Participants will receive 8 Uber rides per month and have access to unlimited Transpo bus rides. The program is set to operate for one year, through May 2025, and the Commuters Trust team will evaluate its impact over the course of that period.
The City is interested in sustaining its philanthropic programming after the one year with the help of local partners. Organizations interested in the Commuters Trust services can use the Commuters Trust grant guide to consider incorporating transportation services in grant and philanthropic applications. Together, with the support of local employers and organizations, Commuters Trust will achieve its goal of closing the transportation gap for the city’s most vulnerable residents.
For more information, visit the program website at www.commuterstrust.com or email info@commuterstrust.com.
